CalFresh Emergency Grocery Card Program
Updated November 14, 2025
- November CalFresh benefits have been fully restored.
- The Emergency Grocery Card Program will continue to be available for San Francisco CalFresh recipients to receive the GiveCard, a one-time, prepaid grocery card.
- GIveCard is in addition to your November CalFresh benefits. This does NOT affect your November benefits.
- In partnership with Crankstart, we are proud to have acted quickly to address the federal uncertainty by providing this additional food support in advance of the holiday season.
CalFresh Emergency Grocery Card Program
With the help of a local foundation, Crankstart, and in partnership with the San Francisco-Marin Food Bank, Mayor Daniel Lurie and the San Francisco Human Services Agency (SFHSA) are giving a one-time prepaid grocery card to San Francisco CalFresh households. This aid will help people buy healthy food and reduce financial stress during this time.
Learn more about the grocery card program below and from our Frequently Asked Questions.
Partners can access outreach materials and a program toolkit on the Community Partners page.
How CalFresh households get pre-paid cards
We are partnering with GiveCard to distribute a one-time, prepaid grocery card.
CalFresh households will receive a letter from SFHSA about how to access their card. The letter includes a unique activation code and instructions on how to access the card virtually or request a physical card.
CalFresh clients will be able to access their card as a virtual card immediately or request a physical card in the mail, which will arrive in five to seven business days.
CalFresh households do not need to contact SFHSA to request or receive this support.
How to prevent fraud
CalFresh recipients will be prompted to provide information that is unique to them in order to activate and access their grocery card. Clients will never be asked to give their Social Security number or bank account information to access their card. GiveCard, the grocery card vendor, will provide customer and fraud prevention support.
Check back for updates
SFHSA will provide more information as it becomes available.